The poultry wholesale industry is a complex business and there are many supplies, machinery and equipment that professional rely upon to run a successful chicken hatchery. Here are some basic terms and definitions to help you better understand the poultry egg harvesting industry.

Hatchery - Waiting for hens to lay eggs naturally would limit the output of a poultry farm, so often eggs are fertilized and harvested in what is called a hatchery. A hatchery often depends upon brooding hens to lay the eggs, and then those eggs can be sold or incubated for agriculture production.

Incubator - An incubator is the artificial method used to hatch chicken eggs, among other agriculture-based poultry. The incubator is a small or large enclosure with controlled temperature and humidity settings to duplicate nature. An incubator is a piece of agricultural machinery that is only used for the production of birds, rather than eggs.

Brood Hen - On a farm, a brood hen typically replaces the incubator. The brood hen typically stops laying eggs, and instead focuses solely on incubating they eggs by sitting on them. The brood hen is so focuses, in fact, that she rarely leaves the next, even to eat.

Coop - A coop is the house or pen in which the poultry live. A chicken coop typically has an area for nests, an ramp for access, and an area for chickens to roam. Chicken coops can be used to house a few birds or hundreds.

Bantam - Bantam are miniature versions of any breed of poultry, and can often be purchased wholesale from an equipment and supplies business.

Poultry equipment and supplies are needed to run a poultry farm or slaughterhouse. Farmers need supplies for the hatchery, incubators, processing machines, farming equipment, and hen house. The chicken you buy in the grocery store often comes from poultry farms, which raise chickens for eggs and meat. Also called a hatchery, poultry farms play a large role in agriculture. Slaughterhouses prepare chickens for packaging, and involve boilers, feather pluckers, tools, and other machinery. Chickens can be raised in a coop, cage free, or free range, with many raised as organic, reflective in the price at market. Because poultry farms may also raise ducks, turkeys, roosters, and pheasants, lots of equipment and supply items are needed to run this business. Farmers and slaughterhouse workers buy from a poultry equipment and supplies company. These dealers sell products in bulk at a cheap discount, so the more consumers buy per unit, the more they save. Companies may sell anything from feed and breeding supplies to hatchery equipment for both egg-laying hens and those farmed for meat. Many poultry farms contract with certain businesses that they deal with on a regular basis. Bulk Quantity dealers may offer further discounts on sales to those who buy repeatedly from them. It's not just large agricultural farms that need poultry supply equipment. Even those who have backyard chicken coops that sell eggs as a side business need the proper equipment and supplies, such as cages, pens, and fencing units. Customers may find out about reputable suppliers through business contacts and online directories.